Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register

Todays Progress on the N Scale ACTRR

32083 views
109 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
1234
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Todays Progress on the N Scale ACTRR
Posted by mfifer on Monday, November 12, 2007 8:56 PM

Here is what I was finally able to do (railroad related) today. The Glacier Gravel Building is built stock , I am just bashing the conveyors. Got to move to the other side now. You will not see the backside from the layout front , just the rear conveyor.

Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
Mike B
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Texas
  • 66 posts
Posted by Mike B on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 4:06 PM

Very nice, especially the weathering.  Be sure and post several photos when finished.

Mike B.

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Friday, November 6, 2009 8:18 PM

Here is what I got done today. The overpass will act as a partial viewblock to the portal at the window. The back side will be mostly trees to complete the block. The overpass will tie into a road that passes through the city area.

Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
Marc_Magnus
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Quebec
  • 983 posts
Posted by Marc_Magnus on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 3:08 AM

Hi from Belgium,

Nice the use of the overpass just to hide the beginning of the cure and the entry of the tunnel.

I like the concrete color; did you have some more infos about it.Confused

Thanks a lot.

Here is how  I hide a curve whith buildings on my Maclau River in Nscale. This curve double an another and I whised to hide it but not whith a tunnel.

Marc

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 7:28 AM

Thanks Marc , Great looking layout there.

I built the over pass from scratch using styrene and the two iron bridge walls were from the Walthers Art Deco underpass ( I just had one laying around). The color is a mixture of Polly Scale aged concrete and concrete colors and used engine black and grimmy black for the weathering. The road surface is engine black and weathered with pastel chalks. The center lines were done with a colored pencil and a french curve and ruler.

Hope that helps !

Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Saturday, November 14, 2009 9:08 PM

Here is video number ten of the rebuild.
Hope you enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5aCkQ2TfvM

Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
BIG JERR
  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: high desert so cal
  • 997 posts
Posted by BIG JERR on Sunday, November 15, 2009 7:29 AM

nice job on video aswell as youre layout,good stuff.

Report Abuse Back to Top
thatboy37
  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: usa
  • 687 posts
Posted by thatboy37 on Monday, November 16, 2009 4:48 PM

very nice work you have done keep it up. your work is motivating me. i really like the depot in this video at the end with the 4 bnsf locomotives beside it. i just got an idea from you with the depot.

LIVE LIFE AS IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE TO LIVE ! UNTIL NEXT TIME PEACE !!! REGGIE thatboy37@hotmail.com
Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Monday, November 16, 2009 7:21 PM

Thanks Reggie glad you were inspired!!

Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Sunday, December 20, 2009 7:25 PM

Merry Christmas to all!
Here is what I added this weekend to the ACTRR.
I have put in a 4 track yard on the front edge of the layout to handle all of my rolling stock that will not be on "made up" trains. Also added another Electro-magnetic un-coupler and the two caboose tracks double as the program tracks. I only had to make a small adjustment to the panel, by adding 1 DPDT switch to the program track and make the old program track switch a block switch.

Thanks , Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 9:39 PM

This is a 2009 Hallmark ornament that I have re-worked. I removed all the snow and trimed off the snow base and put a new roof on. Then touched up the paint and added a few trim pieces anf here you go.

Thanks , Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Sunday, January 24, 2010 5:21 PM

I have been working on the problem end of the layout. I think I have found a way to almost completely cover the loop into the garage wall window.
Here is the latest progress.

Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Sunday, January 24, 2010 9:01 PM

Here is what I did today. I had to build the new end as it went off the old layout so had no end on the right.

Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 25, 2010 2:54 AM

 Mike,

I enjoy very much to follow up on the progress of your layout. It is a pleasure to see, how N scale has improved over the years. Thank you for posting!

I do hope to see more!

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Monday, January 25, 2010 6:15 AM

Thanks Ulrich , It is really all of you guys that keep ME motivated!

Thanks Again , Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 9:21 PM

Here is the ALMOST finished entrance left corner. Also the service road along one end of the yard.
This has been this weeks project.

Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 11:00 AM

 Mike,

thanks for the update - you know I keep track on what you are doing Smile

What really gets me, is the sheer size of your layout. I know, it is N scale, but even so, it covers an area I will never be able to have available for my "trains". Right now I am happy to squeeze out an area of roughly  7`6" by 2" for my little "wonderland".

Report Abuse Back to Top
Seanthehack
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • 104 posts
Posted by Seanthehack on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 11:14 AM

 Mike,

The layout looks great! I really like the McDonalds, was it a kit or scratchbuilt?

Sean

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 6:34 PM

 

Seanthehack

 Mike,

The layout looks great! I really like the McDonalds, was it a kit or scratchbuilt?

Sean

 

Thanks Ulrich! Sean , the McDonalds was a Christmas Tree ornament fro about 10 years ago or so.They are now very hard to find.

MMike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
grove den
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Brunssum, the Netherlands
  • 47 posts
Posted by grove den on Thursday, March 25, 2010 4:21 PM

"Vollmer", now,  makes something too that looks like the kit of Mc Donnalds...

http://vollmer-online.de/en/articles/art_3634.html

Think there are still some small differences...Black EyeWink

Not btw.... should be written at the top:

Great progress Mike...again!!

 

Jos

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Thursday, March 25, 2010 10:03 PM

grove den

"Vollmer", now,  makes something too that looks like the kit of Mc Donnalds...

http://vollmer-online.de/en/articles/art_3634.html

Think there are still some small differences...Black EyeWink

Not btw.... should be written at the top:

Great progress Mike...again!!

 

Jos

Thanks Jos , but this is N Scale. Nice McDonalds Though !

 

Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Sunday, May 16, 2010 10:15 PM

Here is part 14 of the re-build progress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TtXPDun0U8

Thanks , Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 17, 2010 4:09 AM

 Mike,

thanks for posting the video - as always, a joy to watch!

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Monday, May 17, 2010 6:09 AM

Sir Madog

 Mike,

thanks for posting the video - as always, a joy to watch!

Thanks Ulrich , I am glad to have you following along.

Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Sunday, June 20, 2010 10:30 PM

I was able to squeeze in a little model railroading this weekend. I got the ranch well under way on the right side of the entry door.
I still need to finish the field in the foreground , the river and ditch.

Thanks , Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, June 20, 2010 11:32 PM

 Love it!

Bow 

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Monday, June 21, 2010 6:14 AM

Thanks Ulrich , Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
canazar
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Phoenix, Arizona
  • 1,989 posts
Posted by canazar on Monday, June 21, 2010 11:26 AM

I love your weathering on the various buildings, concrete, bridges, etc.  I am getting to that point on my Whitton Branch shelf layout now with some of the building. 

Using Christmas decorations, that is out side the box.  I love it.

Best Regards, Big John

Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona.  Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the  Kiva Valley Railway

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Monday, June 21, 2010 6:22 PM

canazar

I love your weathering on the various buildings, concrete, bridges, etc.  I am getting to that point on my Whitton Branch shelf layout now with some of the building. 

Using Christmas decorations, that is out side the box.  I love it.

Thanks John, but as model railroaders we are always looking for things that are the correct scale.
Thanks again, Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
mfifer
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Las Cruces New Mexico
  • 275 posts
Posted by mfifer on Friday, July 9, 2010 6:29 AM

I have had some time in the last couple weekends to finish the river , irrigation ditch and ranch.
Here is how it all turned out.

Thanks , Mike

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon

Report Abuse Back to Top
1234

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!
Sign up
        See inside the current issue of Model Railroader Magazine

        Renew
        Digital Editions
        Give a Gift
        Customer Service
        Kalmbach Media
        More great sites from Kalmbach Media: